Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Championship
Opener
AURORA, Ill. ( February 19, 2010) - For the second
consecutive season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World
Championship, the AMA Supercross class points race is tied
heading into Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. Rockstar/Makita
Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., and San Manuel
Yamaha's Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., are tied at 103 points
apiece headed into Lucas Oil Stadium. This weekend also marks the
opening race of the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class
championship.
Last weekend in Anaheim, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan
Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., captured his second AMA Supercross
class win and the fourth of his career as he moved within three
points of leaders Dungey and Hill. While Hill remains winless
this season, Dungey, who has led 54 laps, and Villopoto, who has
led 30 laps, each own two wins this season.
Dungey's Rockstar/Makita Suzuki teammate Austin Stroupe
will battle for the title in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross
Lites class. Also, Matt Moss is still being evaluated on a
week-by-week basis, and his participation this weekend is still
up in the air.
"I felt good after practice at Anaheim 3, and I feel
like we had a good set up on the bike," said Dungey.
"But the track was tough. Right from the beginning it was
really rutted and it made for some good racing. We made a couple
changes on the bike and a couple tire adjustments for the night
show, I felt good and confident."
Dungey started the night by winning his heat race.
"I was able to win my heat," he added. "I
didn't get a great start in the main, which put me back and I
couldn't really make the passes stick, was struggling in that
area, and just did it to myself. Overall it was good, I had one
little mishap that set me back, but I salvaged points which is
important."
Dungey spent the week dialing in his motorcycle in
preparation for Indianapolis.
"We're really going to work on the bike this week.
I think there's always room for improvement, and then head to
Indy. It'll be exciting. I'm really looking forward to
it. I love, love the East Coast. It'll be good to see the
whole other side of the nation where there are big stadiums and
domes … the whole nine yards."
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Team manager Roger DeCoster
emphasized the importance of getting Dungey's bike set up
earlier in the day and expects a win in Indianapolis.
"Ryan was a little hesitant at A3 in his riding,"
said DeCoster. "I think we need to do a better job of
adjusting the bike earlier in the day. We cannot back ourselves
into the main event making changes. We need to be better with
that. We made a good change, but we should've done it
earlier. This coming week is going to be good weather-wise and we
can do some good testing and get back on track for Indy. The plan
for Indy is we need to win."
Ryan Dungey Finished Fourth Last Weekend at the Inaugural
Breast Cancer Awareness Race at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
Photo Credit: Chris Ganz
Villopoto is riding a wave of momentum as the Monster
Energy AMA Supercross series heads east and nears its halfway
point. En route to his win last weekend, Villopoto led all 20
laps of the main event.
"I'm just going about my business," said
Villopoto. "I still working hard during the week and I'm
concentrating on getting good starts. The championship is our
goal this season and the best way to win the title is to win
races."
Villopoto isn't the only rider under the Monster Energy
Kawasaki tent carrying momentum. Nick Wey has scored
three-straight top-10 finishes and with Indianapolis being the
closest race to his Dewitt, Mich. home, he feels his best is yet
to come.
"I'm just getting comfortable on the bike,"
said Wey. "I think I can get into the top five or maybe even
sneak up on the podium. Indy is a big race for me and it is going
to be loud in the stadium when I'm running near the
front."
In the supercross lites class, Monster Energy/Pro
Circuit/Kawasaki will see three new faces in the semi as the
Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship takes
over for the next eight races. Defending East Coast Lites
champion Christophe Pourcel is looking to get his season started
on the right foot.
"I want to win," said Pourcel. "I'm
feeling good after my surgery and I've had some time on the
bike so I think I can go out and do it."
Joining Pourcel will be Canadian Dean Wilson and South
African Tyla Rattray who will both be making their AMA Supercross
Lites debut this season. Wilson will be on track in Indianapolis
while Rattray will have to wait while he recovers from a broken
shoulder.
Honda Red Bull Racings Davi Millsaps feels in top shape
heading into Indianapolis this weekend. Millsaps has one win and
one additional podium finish. He's currently fourth overall
in points standings.
"It was my birthday earlier in the week so I've
had a fun week with family and friends. I'm really looking
forward to the series heading back east. I like racing on the
softer East Coast soil and I'm pumped for the Indy Supercross
this weekend."
With teammate Andrew Short out injured, GEICO Powersports
Honda rider Trey Canard joins Millsaps in the Honda Red Bull
Racing team pit at Indy. The 19 year-old is stepping up to race
Short's CRF450R at select rounds while the Red Bull athlete
recovers from his ankle injury and as the Western Regional AMA
Supercross Lites championship takes a break.
"I'm so excited to have this opportunity to ride
Shorty's CRF450R for the next few rounds," said Canard.
"I expect to learn a lot from this experience and I'm
really honored that American Honda thought of me when it came to
finding a fill-in rider. The next few rounds will give me a taste
for things to come and I'm sure the confidence I'll get
racing the big bike class will really help me when it comes time
to get back on my CRF250R and race the final two Western Regional
AMA Supercross Lites class races at Seattle and Salt Lake City
supercross'."
Last weekend at the final Anaheim race in the series, GEICO
Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham scored his second podium of
the season aboard his CRF450R, taking third place.
"Finishing on the box last week was awesome,"
said Windham. "I rode well, felt good and it's a result
I'm really happy with. I still have a big fire and the will
to win in me, and that's why I'm out there racing. GEICO
Powersports Honda gives me a great race bike week after week and
for that they deserve to enjoy success."
GEICO Powersports Honda's Justin Barcia blasted onto
the professional racing scene last year when he finished on
multiple AMA Motocross podiums and scored a win in his rookie
season as a professional. This weekend the young Honda racer
makes his professional AMA Supercross Lites debut.
"I've never been to Indianapolis so I'm really
excited to go there this weekend," said Barcia. "I
can't wait to start racing supercross, and I'm excited
that I get to race the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites.
Indianapolis will be my first time ever racing inside a big
stadium, and I'm really excited to experience that big crowd
atmosphere. I have a lot of confidence in my GEICO Powersports
Honda CRF250R and I'm pumped with the support I've
received from my team in preparation for my pro supercross lites
debut."
Last year, Brett Metcalfe put GEICO Powersports Honda
second on the podium at the opening round of the Eastern Regional
AMA Supercross Lites competition before injuring his collarbone
at the second race, ending his season early. The CRF250R racer is
out to make amends in 2010.
"I have a lot to prove this year after getting hurt
early on in the series last year," said Metcalfe. "More
than anything I want to put the GEICO Powersports Honda team up
on the podium in Indianapolis as repayment for all the support
they have given me over the last two seasons. I kicked last
season off with a podium finish and that's my plan for the
2010 season opener this weekend."
SPEED will air the AMA Supercross class and AMA Supercross
Lites class races live, starting at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Tickets are available at Lucas Oil Stadium, all
Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 and soon at
participating Yamaha Dealers. Club level tickets are available
for $40.00; Gold Circle tickets $35.00; Mid Level tickets $25.00;
Treadhead tickets $10.00.
A season-long subscription to the official webcast of
Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE, is available for
$39.99: http://www.supercrossonline.com/supercrosslive.
Supercross LIVE is the only weekly live Monster Energy Supercross
race call, and features long time voices of supercross, Jason
Weigandt and Jim Holley.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross,
an FIM World Championship, please log on to
www.SupercrossOnline.com
